The Kansas City Star reports that oak mites are off to an early start this year. The bites cause an over-the-top itchy welt. While I am unaware of any way to prevent them other than a floppy hat, pants, long sleeve shirt and if working in the yard, garden gloves, I have found a way to treat them. Sting Stop, a homeopathic gel from Boericke and Tafel applied to the bite site stops my itching and reduces the welt within 48 hours. A friend who is sensitive in the extreme got a helpful 75% relief. This is much better than the relief I hear people are getting with steroid creams and calamine lotion. You may want to keep Sting Stop on hand.